We were lucky to catch up with Dillon Bentlage recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dillon , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
As film producers, we maintain our optimism by staying true to the content that we resonate with. We consider ourselves the primary audience for the stories we tell—if we don’t find genuine enjoyment in the narratives we’re creating, then why would make them? Producing is a very long and sometimes frustrating process, and investing time in a project you don’t fully believe in will only make it more challenging. Many people get into entertainment for the wrong reasons with goals purely focused on recognition and legacy. For us, the driving force behind our continued production and creativity lies in an intrinsic need for self-expression. That’s the first and only reason you should start creating art – without it, you don’t feel complete. As long as that’s your primary motivation, optimism should never wane.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Karen Twins Productions is an independent film production company specializing in short, feature, and corporate videos. It was founded by childhood friends, Dillon Bentlage (myself), and Brian Reilly in Shelton, Connecticut. It has since grown with productions nationwide and internationally. The name comes from Brian and Dillon’s mothers (both named Karen), and who were also lifelong friends.
Our shorts and debut feature film have won many awards at independent festivals, as well as been accepted to major film festivals such as The Nashville Film Festival.
What makes our company unique is our passion for the process. No matter the production size, we bring the same love and creativity to all our collaborators and clients.
We specialize in pre-production and post-production including production services and editing. We have had years of experience outside of KT that have helped us foster these skills.
In 2024, we will launch a new short film campaign called KT Short Shorts, that gives an opportunity to up and coming filmmakers to produce their short films quickly while maintaining high production value.
In addition to this, we are currently prepping for larger productions with award winning directors, as well as expanding our corporate video clients.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Be equally as prepared as you are adaptable – Productions will take a long time, and it’s good that you feel prepped when starting. However, even if you put all your ducks in row, there will always be something that you didn’t plan for. So be adaptable, be willing to change your ideal vision, and who knows, maybe something changes for the better.
Focus on the small victories – If someone laid out all the work ahead of you when starting a film, you would never want to begin the process. Films are made by completing small task one at a time, and eventually you can look back and see all the work that was put into it. Keep your focus on whats right in front of you, rather than the entire production.
Strong Collaboration Skills – No one is able to complete a film all by themselves. Find people you love to work with, and collaborate with them. Be open to compromises and have an open mind to everyone’s ideas and opinions.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
Film production as previously mentioned, is a collaborative process. You will never be the best at every element that is involved in making movies. You need to find partners who excel in the areas you are lacking. And it may be a difficult conversation to have, but it’s important to let your partners know what you are good at, and what they are good at, and vice versa.
Your project is only as good as the people who are dedicating long hours and hard work to it. You want to make sure everyone on board is utilizing their top skills to make one coherent project that everyone can walk away happy with.
We cannot stress enough that open communication between creative teams is a must to make sure the project is strong. Do not work with people you can’t be honest with.
Contact Info:
- Website: karentwins.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekarentwins/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKarenTwins
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7LAdIAt4dDz1uWKrg-u27Q
Image Credits
Courtesy of Karen Twins Productions
